Abelia plant named ‘Lynn’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Abelia  plant named ‘Lynn’, characterized by its compact, low mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; red-colored stems; red purple-colored flower buds; large purple and white-colored flowers; and long flowering period.

Botanical designation: Abelia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Lynn’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Abelia, botanically known as Abelia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Lynn’.

The new Abelia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new compact Abelias with large attractive flowers and long flowering period.

The new Abelia originated from a cross-pollination during the summer of 2003 of Abelia schumannii ‘Bumblebee’, not patented, as the female, or seed parent and Abelia×grandiflora ‘Little Richard’, not patented as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Abelia was discovered and selected by the Inventor on Oct. 10, 2003 as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new Abelia plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since the summer of 2005 has shown that the unique features of this new Abelia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Abelia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Lynn’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Lynn’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Abelia:

-   -   1. Compact, low mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Red-colored stems.     -   4. Red purple-colored flower buds.     -   5. Large purple and white-colored flowers.     -   6. Long flowering period.

Plants of the new Abelia can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Bumblebee’. Plants of the new Abelia differ from plants of ‘Bumblebee’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Abelia have stronger root systems than         plants of ‘Bumblebee’.     -   2. Plants of the new Abelia are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Bumblebee’.     -   3. Plants of the new Abelia are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Bumblebee’.     -   4. Stems of plants of the new Abelia are lighter red in color         than stems of plants of ‘Bumblebee’.     -   5. Flower buds of plants of the new Abelia are red purple in         color whereas flower buds of plants of ‘Bumblebee’ are dark pink         in color.     -   6. Plants of the new Abelia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Bumblebee’.

Plants of the new Abelia can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Little Richard’. Plants of the new Abelia differ from plants of ‘Little Richard’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Abelia have stronger rooting systems than         plants of ‘Little Richard’.     -   2. Stems of plants of the new Abelia are lighter red in color         than stems of plants of ‘Little Richard’.     -   3. Flower buds of plants of the new Abelia are red purple in         color whereas flower buds of plants of ‘Little Richard’ are         white in color.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Abelia are purple and white in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Little Richard’ are white in         color.     -   5. Plants of the new Abelia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Little Richard’.

Plants of the new Abelia can be compared to plants of the Abelia hybrida ‘Edward Goucher’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Abelia differed from plants of ‘Edward Goucher’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flower buds of plants of the new Abelia were red purple in         color whereas flower buds of plants of ‘Edward Goucher’ were         pink in color.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Abelia were purple in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Edward Goucher’ were red purple in         color.     -   3. Plants of the new Abelia had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Edward Goucher’.

Plants of the new Abelia can also be compared to plants of the Abelia×grandiflora ‘Prostrata’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Abelia differed from plants of ‘Prostrata’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flower buds of plants of the new Abelia were red purple in         color whereas flower buds of plants of ‘Prostrata’ were white in         color.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Abelia were purple in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Prostrata’ were white in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Abelia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Abelia.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Lynn’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Lynn’.

The photograph on the third sheet is close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Lynn’ (right), ‘Bumblebee’ (center) and ‘Edward Goucher’ (left).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Grand Haven, Mich. during the summer and autumn in an outdoor nursery and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. Plants had been growing for 2.5 years when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Abelia hybrida ‘Lynn’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Abelia schumannii ‘Bumblebee’, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Abelia×grandiflora ‘Little             Richard’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 18 days at 27° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 40 days at 27°             C.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub. Compact, low             mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit. Vigorous             growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit, dense and bushy             growth habit, usually about 572 lateral branches develop per             plant.         -   Plant height.—About 40 cm.         -   Plant diameter(area of spread).—About 63 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 18.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Aspect.—About 80° from vertical.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 181A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate to ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate to obtuse.         -   Margin.—Slightly serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146B; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 137A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance/arrangement.—Single campanulate flowers;             solitary or in clusters; terminal and axillary. Freely             flowering habit with numerous flowers developing per lateral             branch. Flowers drooping.         -   Fragrance.—Slight, pleasant.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last for about one week on the             plant. Flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants             typically flower from spring to fall in Michigan.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Oblanceolate. Color: Close to 61A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement/quantity: Single whorl of five fused             petals. Lobe length: About 1.2 cm. Lobe width: About 1.7 cm.             Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper surface: Slightly pubescent. Texture, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 78A to 78C; towards the margins,             close to 155D. Color fading to 78D with development. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 78B to             78C; towards the margins, close to 155D. Color fading to 78D             with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Two sepals; opposite. Length:             About 1 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature and mature,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 181B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Angle: Drooping. Color: Close to 143B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Anther size: About 1 mm by             2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 155D. Pistils: Pistil length: About             1.6 cm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 155D.             Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close to 155D.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Abelia plant. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Abelia have been observed to     have excellent garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about 37° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Abelia have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Abelia. 

1. A new and distinct Abelia plant named ‘Lynn’ as illustrated and described. 